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FIT1049 Assignment 1: Understanding the IT role and profession

INTRODUCTION

This assignment will provide you with an opportunity to research a particular professional role of interest to you, where
you would be able to use the IT expertise you gain at university. By completing this assignment, you will have a realistic
understanding of the role of your choice, the current industry landscape surrounding the role you chose, and the
attributes and/or skills you would typically need in order to be employable and successful in the role. It may also be
useful to note that a very similar research process, if not the same, will ensue when you are looking for a job in a specific
field, although that will likely focus on a particular organisation whose job you are applying for.

On completion of this assignment, you will be demonstrating the unit’s Learning Outcomes 1, 3 and 5:

1. Describe a variety of roles for IT professional and the personal, social, ethical and legal impacts arising from their
work;
3. Effectively participate in a range of two way oral and written communication forms using appropriate intrapersonal
and interpersonal communication skills and technologies;
5. Gather information, critically evaluate the material and use correct citation techniques when writing the material into
an appropriate format.

INSTRUCTIONS

To get started, choose a particular professional role of your interest, in which you would be able to use the IT expertise
you have gained at university. For example, you could choose:

● a more ‘traditional’ IT role, such as Business Analyst, Software Developer, IT Security Consultant, or Game
Developer;
● a role that is not always explicitly associated with IT, such as Industrial Designer, Police Officer, or
Astrophysicist;
● a role within a particular industry/field of practice, such as ‘Data Scientist in Finance’ or ‘Forensic IT Specialist in
Law Enforcement’.

Please consult your Tutor on role selection. Once you and your tutor agree on the role, you will conduct research on:

● The role: What do the role’s typical duties and responsibilities include? What kind of
qualifications/accreditations would one need for this role? Who are the typical and/or common employers?
● The industry and profession: What makes the role relevant in the contemporary industry landscape? How has
the role evolved recently, and in which direction is it predicted to further evolve in future? What would a
common career progression for the role be?
● Required skills and attributes: What kind of skills and/or attributes would you typically need in order to be
employable and successful in the role (including the required IT-specific skills, and also general or non-technical
skills if relevant), and why?

The tutorial activities in Week 3 will guide you through a systematic research process, with which you can address these
questions consistently and comprehensively. Based on the research you conducted in Week 3, you will then be
communicating the outcomes in two formats, that are:

Part A: written report – 10%
Part B: five-minute virtual presentation – 10%
TOTAL: 20%

Details of submission methods are provided below under their respective sections.

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Part A – Written report

Due Date: Sunday the 30th August 2020 (i.e. the end of Week 4)

Task: Based on all of the research you have conducted, document your research outcomes in a report format. As we will
discuss in the Week 3 tutorial, your research (and hence the report) will need to be based on a balanced and well-
curated selection of sources, for which you will be required to conduct a thorough analysis of the sources you have
gathered. Furthermore, your report must include the APA style of citation and referencing, with a list of references at
the end.

Your report must be no longer than three pages (excluding a list of references, however). As a guideline, your report is
expected to cover:

● a brief description of the role of your choice;
● a balanced overview of the current industry landscape surrounding the role you chose; and
● an overview of the attributes and/or skills you would typically need in order to be employable and successful in
the role (including the required IT-specific skills, and also general or non-technical skills if relevant)

You will also be provided with more detailed instructions on how to format a report in the Week 3 virtual tutorial, but
you may also refer to this resource.

Submission method: Your report must be submitted online via Moodle as either as a PDF or Word document, which
would allow your tutor to add their feedback in the same document. Penalties of 10% off per day apply for late
submission.

Criteria for assessment:
Your worksheet will be assessed based on the criteria below, and the marking sheet is designed to reflect these criteria.
It is recommended that you use the ‘Assignment 1 Part A: Written Report Assessment Sheet’ available below in this
sheet as a guide to ensure you have addressed all the criteria prior to submission.

1. Depth of analysis of the chosen IT related role and its sources
2. Extent of research done
3. Quality of writing (including spelling and grammar)
4. Appropriate citation of sources using APA referencing style

Part B – Virtual Presentation

Due date: Tutorial class, Week 6 (unless otherwise scheduled)

Task: Your task is to give a 5 minute virtual presentation. The purpose of the presentation is to share the findings from
your research with your Tutor and a Lead Tutor. Your presentation must be supported by a visual presentation tool.
While you may use any presentation tool (such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote or Prezi), it is your responsibility
to check that the tool you choose will function with the Zoom platform. You must also activate your video stream to
provide a ‘self-view’, which will allow the audience to observe your non-verbal communications skills during the
presentation. As a guideline, your presentation should include:

● an introduction to the presentation;
● a brief description of the role of your choice, and its context;
● a balanced overview of the current industry landscape surrounding the role you chose;
● an overview of the attributes and/or skills you would typically need in order to be employable and successful in
the role; and
● a conclusion to the presentation.

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Submission method: To be presented during the tutorial in Week 6 via Zoom to your Group Tutor and a Lead Tutor. You
will need to submit slides or any visual aids to Moodle prior to your tutorial start time.

Criteria for assessment:
Your presentation will be assessed based on the criteria below, and the marking sheet is designed to reflect these
criteria. It is recommended that you practise your presentation beforehand, and that you use the ‘Assignment 1 Part B:
Oral Presentation Assessment Sheet’ available at the end of this document.

1. Selection and organisation of content
2. Voice and use of language
3. Non-verbal communication
4. Quality of visual aids (including appropriate citation of sources using APA referencing style)
5. Timing

FIT1049 Assignment 1 Part A: Written Report Marking Sheet

Student Name Student ID

Criteria

Qualitative Assessment (see the legends below)
Exemplary Meeting aspirations Satisfactory Needs development Unsatisfactory
Extent of research (15)

The overall selection of the sources
is well balanced, comprehensive
and purposeful.
The overall selection of the sources
is well balanced and
comprehensive, but not purposeful.
The overall selection of the sources
is well balanced, but neither
comprehensive nor purposeful.
The overall selection of the sources
is skewed and unjustified, however
still representative of the role and
the industry chosen.

The overall selection of the sources
is skewed and/or not
representative of the role and the
industry chosen.

Depth of analysis (15) There is an original and purposeful
narrative that is consistently
supported by the critical use of the
sources cited, as well as by the
persuasive and cohesive
argumentation.

There is an original and consistent
narrative that is supported mostly
by the critical use of the sources
cited, as well as by the consistently
cohesive argumentation.

There is an original and consistent
narrative that is supported
generally by the use of the sources
cited, as well as by the generally
cohesive argumentation.

There is an implicit (or vague) yet
original narrative that is supported
generally by the use of the sources
cited, as well as by the generally or
partially cohesive argumentation.

The report does not have a
consistent or cohesive narrative,
and may resemble juxtaposition of
facts and/or information. It may
also lack cohesive argumentation.

Quality of writing - format (5) The writing is purposefully and
effectively formatted and written as
a report with necessary structural
elements as appropriate (such as
title, author’s name, date and
headings).
The writing is effectively formatted
and written as a report with
necessary structural elements as
appropriate (such as title, author’s
name, date and headings).


The writing is generally formatted
and written as a report with
necessary structural elements as
appropriate (such as title, author’s
name, date and headings) though
there may be some minor
inconsistencies at times in the
format and/or minor omission of
structural elements.
The writing demonstrates an effort
to have it formatted and written as
a report with some necessary
structural elements (such as title,
author’s name, date and headings),
but there are inconsistencies that
compromise the overall format and
readability.

The writing is not formatted and
written as a report.



Quality of writing - language (5) The language and expressions used
are consistently professional and
articulate, and there are no
grammatical or typographical errors
in the writing.

The language and expressions used
are generally professional and
articulate, but there may be a few
grammatical or typographical errors
in the writing.

The language and expressions used
could be more professional and/or
articulate at times, and there may
be a few grammatical or
typographical errors in the writing.

Though still comprehensible, the
language and expressions used are
not professional and/or articulate
at times, and there may be a few
grammatical or typographical errors
in the writing.

The language and expressions used
are not professional and articulate
overall, and it may not be
comprehensible at times. There
may also be many grammatical or
typographical errors in the writing.

Appropriate citation of sources
using APA referencing style (10)
The writing also includes both citing
and referencing following the APA
style.

The writing also includes both citing
and referencing following the APA
style.

The writing also includes both citing
and referencing following the APA
style.

The writing also includes both citing
and referencing following the APA
style.

The writing also does not include
either/both citing or/and
referencing following the APA style.

Comments:



Total (out of 50):
Legend: Unsatisfactory: This element was either missing or lacking key information/performance for your audience at the expected standard. Needs development: While this was partially addressed, it was below the expected
standard. Satisfactory: This was achieved at an average standard. Meeting aspirations: A high standard of information/performance for your audience. Exemplary: An outstanding level of information/performance.

FIT1049 Assignment 1 Part B: Virtual Presentation Marking Sheet
Student Name Student ID
Criteria Aspect Qualitative Assessment (see the legends below)
1. Content, structure
and narrative [10]


Introduction
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory/
none
Conclusion
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory/
none
Overall coherency and flow
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
Clarity of explanations and arguments
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
Relevant material included
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
2. Voice and language
[10]
Voice projection, intonation and speed
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Too loud ◻ Too soft ◻ Unclear
◻ Flat ◻ Inconsistent ◻ Raised intonation
◻ Too fast ◻ Fast at times ◻ Too slow ◻ Slow at times
Language and mannerisms
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Repeating words or phrases (incl. um / yeah / like etc.)
◻ Too informal ◻ Too formal ◻ Inconsistent use of formality
◻ Inconsistent/incomplete use of language◻ Too much jargon
◻ Misuse of words/grammatical errors
3. Non-verbal
communication [10]
Use of hands, body gestures and eye contact
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Too much use of hands/body gestures (i.e. too busy)
◻ Not much (or no) use of hands/body gestures (i.e. too static)
◻ Undeliberate habit(s) affecting the delivery (e.g. rocking)
◻ Ineffective (or no) eye contact with viewers through your device camera
◻ Ineffective use of notes/slides
Engagement and proxemics
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Moving too much
◻ Too static
◻ Not positioning well within the video frame
4. Visual aids [10]
Visual design
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Visually inconsistent ◻ Too much text
◻ Visually inaccessible (e.g. small text, inappropriate colour scheme)
◻ Compositionally complex/visually too busy
◻ Stylistically inconsistent with the delivery style
◻ Image(s) not cited ◻ Images too informal/inappropriate
Contents
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻ Structure either too weak or too complex
◻ Links from one topic to another could be smoother
◻ Contents of each of the slides not fully explained
◻ Irrelevant information/details obscuring the narrative
◻ Sources not cited/reference list absent
5. Overall [10]
Timing
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
◻Too short ◻ Overtime ◻ Mistimed
Overall impression
Exemplary Meeting
aspirations
Satisfactory Needs
development
Unsatisfactory
Comments:


Total Mark: /50
Legends: Unsatisfactory: This element was either missing or lacking key information/performance for your audience at the expected standard. Needs development: While this
was partially addressed, it was below the expected standard. Satisfactory: This was achieved at an average standard. Meeting aspirations: A high standard of
information/performance for your audience. Exemplary: An outstanding level of information/performance.